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VERO BEACH, FL - May 22, 2002 - The Internet opens a world of possibilities for your child, but can also lead to tragic consequences. The recent murder of 13-year-old Christina Long of Danbury, regrettably, is not an isolated case.

"Unfortunately, we're seeing an increase in these kinds of cases nationwide and here in the state of Connecticut," FBI Special Agent Michael Wolf stated.

It's been estimated that at least 50,000 pedophiles prowl the Internet every day with one goal in mind: to find a child, develop a relationship and eventually meet with that child for the purpose of a sexual encounter.

The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) reports that many pedophiles pose as teenagers in chat rooms, which are among the most popular destinations on the Web - especially for children and teens. The FBI, working in collaboration with NCMEC, warns that kids who spend a lot of time home alone or whose activity on the Internet is seldom monitored are at greatest risk for sexual exploitation on the Internet.

"The message ... is that parents have to be careful and have to monitor what their children are doing on the Internet," Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton said.

Monitoring a child's Internet activities is one of the best ways to protect that child. Although parents cannot always be present when their child is web surfing, using instant messaging or in a chat room, there are products that allow parents to proactively protect their children, even from a distance. One such product is Spector, an Internet monitoring and recording software from SpectorSoft Corporation in Vero Beach, FL.

Spector and Spector Pro act like a video recorder for PC and Internet activity, so a parent can see exactly what their child has been doing online. Spector products record all web sites visited, all emails sent and received, all chat conversations, all instant messages, all programs run, etc. In addition, Spector Pro will actually examine what is being done and analyze it to see whether the parent should be notified right away.

Every keystroke is captured, so not only does a parent know what their child is doing - they also know what anyone targeting their child on the Internet is doing. That parent has all the evidence they need to discuss Internet safety rules with their child, or, if necessary, to alert authorities.

"As a parent, you have a responsibility to your child to ensure their safety on the Internet. You need to understand that you have to go beyond filtering and censoring in order to provide that protection," states Doug Fowler, President of SpectorSoft. "Monitoring and recording your child's Internet activities on a regular basis are the only failsafe methods to keep your children safe from predators."

There are warning signs that may clue you in that your child is being targeted by a molester. Your child may be a victim of an online predator if he or she is spending long hours on the Internet, especially at night. If there are phone calls from people you don't know or unsolicited gifts arriving in the mail, be suspicious and ask your child about his/her Internet contacts. If your child suddenly turns off the computer when you walk into the room, ask why and monitor the child's computer time more closely. Withdrawal from family life and reluctance to discuss Internet activities are other signs that your child may be the victim of a computer sex offender.

Bob Watkins, a Spector user, was concerned about his stepdaughter's failing grades and her sudden increased interest in the Internet. Bob installed Spector and within 48 hours discovered that his 13-year-old stepdaughter was in a sexual relationship with her 37-year-old middle school teacher. He took the emails as proof to the District Attorney and charges were filed.

Spector Professional Edition is priced at $99.95 for one license. Spector Pro is available for immediate download or on CD at the company web site www.SpectorSoft.com or by calling (888) 598-2788.

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About SpectorSoft

SpectorSoft develops, markets and supports PC and Internet monitoring and surveillance products for education, business, government and home users, including Spector Pro, eBlaster, Spector for Mac, Spector CNE Investigator, and Spector 360.

More than 50,000 companies and more than 400,000 consumers have purchased SpectorSoft solutions to crack down on Internet abuse in their business or home, and SpectorSoft has been selected for three years by Inc. Magazine as one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. SpectorSoft monitoring technology is a THREE-TIME winner of the prestigious PC Magazine Editors' Choice Award.

For more information about SpectorSoft Corporation and its monitoring software products, please visit www.spectorsoft.com. For more information about SpectorSoft's Partners Program, please visit www.spectorsoftpartners.com.

To schedule a product demonstration, please contact press@spectorsoft.com , or call: (772) 770-5670 .

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